Bitcoin has faced skepticism since its inception, but when a Nobel Prize-winning economist predicts its downfall, people take notice.
Eugene Fama, a key figure in modern finance, argues that Bitcoin is destined to become worthless. His reasoning? It lacks fundamental value, struggles as a medium of exchange, and doesn’t integrate into traditional financial systems.
One of Fama’s main concerns is Bitcoin’s volatility. Stable currencies encourage widespread use, yet Bitcoin’s price swings make it unreliable for everyday transactions. Without stability, businesses hesitate to accept it as payment. Another issue he highlights is Bitcoin’s lack of government backing. Unlike fiat money, which is supported by central banks, Bitcoin’s worth is based purely on demand. If that demand disappears, its value could collapse entirely.
However, not everyone agrees with this bleak outlook. Many argue that Bitcoin’s purpose isn’t to function like traditional money but rather as a digital store of value—akin to gold. Unlike fiat currencies, Bitcoin has a hard cap of 21 million coins, making it scarce and resistant to inflation. Its volatility, some believe, is a natural consequence of its early adoption phase rather than a sign of failure.
For Bitcoin to truly fail, drastic events would need to occur. A global crackdown could restrict access, a fundamental flaw in its code could erode trust, or a superior digital asset could replace it. Yet history shows Bitcoin’s resilience. It has weathered regulatory threats, market crashes, and criticism from financial elites, only to recover stronger each time.
While Fama’s argument carries weight, dismissing Bitcoin entirely may be premature. Its future remains uncertain, but whether it thrives or collapses will depend on adoption, regulation, and evolving market dynamics.
Bitcoin briefly surged past $86,000 on Tuesday, reaching levels not seen since early April, before slipping back slightly.
The Trump administration is exploring the idea of leveraging tariff revenues to build a national Bitcoin reserve, signaling a broader shift in how digital assets could be integrated into U.S. economic policy.
Public companies ramped up their Bitcoin holdings in early 2025, with total corporate reserves growing by more than 95,000 BTC in the first quarter alone, according to data shared by Bitwise.
Japanese investment company Metaplanet is ramping up its Bitcoin acquisition strategy, making headlines with its latest purchase of over ¥3.7 billion (approximately $26 million USD) worth of BTC.